Asylum granted to Putin adversary

Boris Berezovsky, the Russian billionaire and now implacable enemy of the man he helped into office, Vladimir Putin, has been granted political asylum by Britain.

Yesterday he received a letter from the Home Office granting him refugee status - weeks before Bow Street magistrates are due to hear a Russian request for his extradition.

Mr Berezovsky's spokesman, Vladimir Voronkov, said last night the media tycoon's lawyers were studying the letter. It was too early to say what effect it would have on extradition proceedings, due on October 6.

Mr Berezovsky was arrested in London in March in connection with Russian charges that he and an associate, Yuli Dubov, defrauded the region of Samara of 2,000 used Ladas, worth 60bn roubles (£8m), in 1994 and 1995 as co-directors of the LogoVaz and AvtoVaz car companies. He was later given bail.

The charges were politically motivated, claimed Mr Berezovsky, and coincided with President Putin's rise to power and Mr Berezovsky's opposition to him.

At an initial hearing of the extradition request, his barrister, Alun Jones QC, claimed Mr Berezovsky lived in fear of assassination by "those loyal to the government and others."

Mr Jones told the court an asylum application by Mr Berezovsky had been rejected, but there would be an appeal.

It was not clear last night what led the Home Office to reverse the decision made in March. A spokesman last night refused to confirm or deny the granting of asylum.

In theory, the court could still extradite Mr Berezovsky on criminal charges, if it were convinced they were not politically motivated and that he would be given get a fair trial.

Since the start of the extradition attempt, he has become increasingly vociferous in his criticism of the Putin regime.

Last month Mr Berezovsky penned a 2,000 word opinion article on the front page of Kommersant, accusing the president of corruption and other dishonesty. He has also stated his intention to run as an MP in the December elections.